Guest Blog: Why You Should Join Team Morning Workout

Find out how to get the most out of every day with Amata member Jim Lenger. Read his post about why you should join a Team Morning Workout. As a music instructor and triathlete, Jim notices that people who exercise prior to their guitar lessons are energized and ready to face challenges.

In the workplace and in guitar lessons, Team Morning Workout will enhance your day.

Author: James "Jim" Lenger, Amata Member and Founder of Guitar Cities

My life revolves around music and sports. Literally. When I am not training competitively for Team USA in the Pentathlon and Triathlon, I am instructing music and running my Guitar Cities music schools in Chicago, San Francisco, New York, and London.

I have instructed approximately 70,000 people and have noticed many things that have changed positively as they have pursued music and fitness together. These changes have been primarily twofold. First, on a personal level, those who have pursued both areas together strive to learn more, and have more energy and enthusiasm for this.

As a business owner, there is a reason that I market guitar lessons to triathletes, and why I see people that have a budding interest in music start pursuing athletics. They are both roads to bettering themselves, both physically and intellectually.

Second, these changes can affect the workplace productivity, especially if done in the morning.

Why You Should Join Team Morning Workout

I have a number of students that will do their workout prior to their 8 AM lesson and I notice when this is true, these “Team Morning Workout” students are already energized and ready to dive into new challenges head on.

Even the student that starts their day with a guitar lesson is already leaving engaged and prepared to “hit the ground running” as they get into work. Findings from a study published in the Harvard Business Review showed:

“People whose performance peaks in the morning are better positioned for career success, because they’re more proactive than people who are at their best in the evening.”

Basically, attack the day early with something physical and creative; your body, mind, and job will thank you for it!

5 Tips To Make Morning Workouts Easier

Have an accountability partner.

This can be a coach, instructor, or friend that will be expecting you to be there, whether physically with you or via text or phone check in.

Have goals.

If you're picking up running, perhaps wanting to enter into a 5K, have something to build towards. If you're picking up an instrument, pick a song to learn and understand the steps necessary to get there.

Start with a reasonable schedule.

Don't expect to get up super early every morning of the week, especially if that wasn't a part of your normal schedule before. Start with a few days, and as you gain comfortability with the early hours, add more!

Sleep.

If you are planning on getting up early the next morning, be sure to get a reasonable amount of sleep. You will perform better, both in athletics and music, if your body is rested. Set a few alarms for yourself prior to when you need to get to sleep to aid in the unwinding process.

Keep it simple.

Don't try to jump into too much at once. Many people make the mistake of modifying a big list of things in their technique, both on guitar and in swimming, for example. Start with the big things, then work your way to the small things, don't be too concerned with minute details right away.